Final answer:
The UIN at UIUC would be saved as a Long integer, as it is a numerical identifier that does not require decimal points and may need a large range of values to ensure uniqueness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The University Identification Number (UIN) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) would be saved as a numerical data type. Considering its nature, a UIN is typically a unique set of numbers assigned to students for identification purposes and does not require any decimal points. Therefore, the most suitable data type for storing a UIN would be an integer. Looking at the provided options, a UIN would most closely align with a) Long integer.
This is because a Long integer can hold a larger range of values than a short integer, which is critical considering the potentially large number of students at the university. A UIN is not a fractional number, hence it is not appropriate to use Single precision float or Double precision float, which are typically used for numbers that require a decimal point. A short integer might not be sufficient because it has a smaller range and may not accommodate the number of unique identifiers needed.